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Natural HRT Benefits vs. Mare’s Urine
Estrogen with MPA--the tragic differences (7/7/13)--jk
The reason why women’s health precipitously
declines after menopause http://healthfully.org/rc/id2.html
The
long-term use of NATURAL estradiol (estrogen) and progesterone has been shown
to DECREASE the risk of: Alzheimer’s 83%, Heart attacks 32%, Coronary
Heart Disease 50%, Colorectal
Cancer 46%, Breast Cancer 73%, Thrombosis 8%,, Osteoporosis Fractures 90%, Macular
degeneration 65%, reduces & prevents arthritic join destruction, firmer
breasts, Healthier skin (less wrinkles, thicker, 48% more
collagen), reduces hair loss, improves cognitive function, less
depression and mental illness, and a general feeling of well-being with
increased libido. These claims are referenced below and at http://healthfully.org/fhr/.
WARNING:
BREAST-CANCER SCREENING leads to aggressive treatment statistically that does
more harm than good US taskforce
concludes
Backdrop:
1) The Pharmaceutical industry (hereafter referred to by their trade
organization PhARMA) is about profit maximization; public service is
their hype. 2) What follows assumes that
you have read the 2-page account of the state of “Marketing
Science and Misinformation”. You will find out how big PhARMA
totally dominates medicine;
namely through research, the production of information for physicians and
public, the setting up of treatment protocols, and the FDA from the top- down. Money talks:
the medical journals and media are “PhARMA
friendly”, as is our 2-party system.
Estrogen
Basics: Estrogens (Wikipedia)
are a group of related compounds named for their importance in the estrous
cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex
hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid
hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal. The name comes from
the Greek
οἶστρος (oistros), literally meaning "gadfly" but figuratively
sexual passion or desire,[1] and
the suffix -gen,
meaning "producer of".
Estrogens are synthesized in all vertebrates[2]
as well as some insects.[3] Like all steroid hormones, estrogens readily
diffuse
across the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, they bind to and
activate estrogen receptors which in turn modulate the expression
of many genes.[4]
Additionally, estrogens have been shown to activate a G protein-coupled receptor, GPR30.[5] The three
major naturally occurring estrogens in women are estrone (E1), estradiol
(E2), and estriol
(E3). Estradiol (E2) is the predominant estrogen during reproductive
years both in terms of absolute serum levels as well as in terms of estrogenic
activity. Estradiol is about 10 times as
potent as estrone and about 80 times as potent as estriol in its estrogenic
effect. Estrone is secreted by the ovary, adipose [fat] tissue, and
placenta. As a sulfate it acts as a
reservoir that can be converted as needed to estradiol. During menopause, estrone
is the predominant circulating estrogen; while Estriol is during pregnancy in terms of
serum levels. Though estriol is the
most plentiful of the three estrogens ,it is also the weakest. Thus, estradiol
is the most important estrogen in non-pregnant females who are between the menarche and menopause
stages of life. A 4th type of estrogen
called estetrol
(E4) is produced only during pregnancy.
All of the different forms of estrogen are synthesized from androgens,
specifically testosterone and androstenedione,
by the enzyme aromatase. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
stimulates the ovarian production of estrogens by the granulosa
cells of the ovarian follicles and corpora
lutea. Some estrogens are also
produced in smaller amounts by other tissues such as the liver, adrenal
glands, and the breasts. Androstenedione has weak androgenic activity
[muscle building] and is the predominant precursor for the more potent androgens
such as testosterone as well as estrogen.
Among estrogen’s over 2-dozen bodily functions are those of lowering the
remodeling threshold, thus preventing osteoporosis. Estrogen prevents cardiovascular
disease by lowering cholesterol levels,
and by reducing inflammation and oxidative
damage to LDL [bad
cholesterol]. Inflammation and oxidative
damage are causal factors for cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and other
conditions. Estrogens circulate in the
blood in association with proteins including sex hormone binding globulin and
albumin (50-80%), and a significant portion is in the form of a sulfate. It
is distributed in most tissues, especially
the breast, uterine, vaginal, and has a high affinity to adipose tissue. Estrogens
are metabolized in the liver and
excreted as metabolites by the kidney.
Estradiol during menopause sharply declines; but the levels of total and
free testosterone,
as well as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
(DHEAS) and androstenedione appear to decline gradually with age.
The limited effectiveness of plant type estrogens is due to their lower
bio-activity and first-pass metabolism by the liver. Progesterone
belongs to a class of hormones called progestogens,
and is the major naturally occurring human progestogen. The recognition of
progesterone's ability to suppress ovulation
during pregnancy spawned a search for a similar hormone that could bypass the
problems associated with administering progesterone (low bioavailability when administered orally, except in oil). A progestin is a synthetic[1]
progestogen
that has progestational effects similar to progesterone.[2]
The two most common uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception (either alone or with
an estrogen),
and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia [excess tissue in
the uterus] from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy. In mammals, progesterone, like all other steroid hormones, is
synthesized from pregnenolone, which in turn is derived from cholesterol in a very complex bio-system (Wikipedia). Synthetic plant and horse estrogens are
inferior to evolved human hormones. The
synthetics progestin MPA in Prempro is much worse than progesterone. As for
other synthetic progestins, several increase
cancer risk, and others lack literature their on including other side effects. What
follows are 3 sections: setting the
record straight by comparing natural HRT to Prempro; then a list of HRT’s
benefits supported by links to articles; last are recommendations.
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^^^^^^^
Setting the
record straight Prempro & natural HRT -- for more http://healthfully.org/fhr/
^^^^^^^
Bad
Press: Prempro, one of the first
HRTs,
has been marketed since 1942 by Wyeth Laboratory (bought out by Pfizer in
2009). It has been and still is the
best-selling HRT. A supposedly
definitive study of HRT was
done by the FDA’s drug research branch, National
Institute of Health (NIH) (with
undoubtedly a nod from
PhARMA). The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)
knowingly selected the worst
formulation of HRT, Prempro. NIH
had the results of the Hormone Estrogen
Replacement Study (HERS
) completed in 1998 which used Prempro;
moreover, the medical literature had numerous disappointing results for Prempro
when compared to natural HRT formulas.
Prempro consists of an estrogen cocktail derived from pregnant mare’s
urine to which is added
the synthetic progestogen MPA (medroxyprogesterone). (The tragic treatment and slaughter produced
from collecting urine for estrogen was broadcast
by Frontline.) “Pregnant mare’s
estrogens are the weak estrone
(>50%), and the two mare estrogens, equilin (15-25%)
and equilenin…. Mare (equine) estrogens such as equilin, that
are foreign to the human body, have been shown, when compared to other studies,
to have effects that are significantly worse than the natural estradiol.”
MPA, the synthetic progestin used in
Prempro, blocks most of the beneficial
effects of estrogen--the natural progesterone doesn’t. Using Prempro,
the WHI found that compared to a placebo
there was increased incidents: heart
attacks 29%, breast cancer 26%, pulmonary embolism 113%, strokes 41%, total
deaths 15%, all cancers 3%; reduced incidents: hip fractures 34% and colon cancer
37%.” (Compare this to the benefits of using the natural
estradiol with progesterone listed at the top of the first page.) The press
made the most of the WHI results (undoubtedly with a nod
from their biggest advertiser).
HRT sales plummeted with this assault.
The equine estrogen only
arm of WHI had better results;
more proof that adding MPA causes the
harm. Pfizer in 2010
settled a suit over breast
cancer for $330 million or $150,000 per person. Yet Prempro is still on the
market (thank you
FDA) and still first in sales (more proof that corporations dominate medical
information). Based on the WHI, NIH issued this
warning: “…increased risk of myocardial infraction, stroke, invasive breast
cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women… Estrogens
with or without progestins should
be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration
consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman”. The
warning is placed on all packages of HRT, and it is accepted
as correct by most doctors. I suspected
the worst of NIH and PhARMA having
followed in the journals HRT and the birth control pill since the early
70s. My doubts were confirmed when
attending a lecture on the WHI given
in 2002 at UCSD by Professor Dr. Robert Langer.
He explained to a large medical audience that the WHI results cannot be
validly applied to other HRT formulas.
Over 50 years of research was not overturned; rather physicians and the
public were tragically misled by the press, PhARMA, and the NIH.
CONFIRMATION: Set
Up to Fail was published in the highly acclaimed science journal, Nature,
09/09/2010: “Is
Nature ignorant of the vital fact
that Prempro contains no progesterone, but instead
the
artificial progestogen Provera [MPA]. The other component is Premarin (conjugated estrogen), which is a very
uncertain, patent mixture of substances from the urine of pregnant mares….
[MPA] has crucially different effects. Prempro is totally unrepresentative
of any other product used for HRT purposes…. . Much
of it was known
before the NIH chose to use Prempro in its intended landmark study. Using a study of the effects of Prempro to
attack the entire use of HRT has, through needless fear, caused millions of
women to forgo considerable benefits of HRT using better products. This point
has been repeatedly made by
endocrinologists”. Why does Nature not know it?--END OF ARTICLE.
"I think that it
borders on a tragedy that Premarin and Provera [the 2 compounds in Prempro]
were chosen as the only HRT treatments [for the WHI Study]”. Another researcher
finds that Provera
[MPA]--and no other progestin--blocks the mechanisms that allow estrogen to
fight the brain's immune response to Alzheimer's…. Neuroendocrinologist Bruce
S. McEwen of the Rockefeller University is unequivocally critical of the study:
"I think that it borders on a tragedy that Premarin and Provera were
chosen as the only HRT treatments."
“With Medroxyprogesterone
[MPA] in Provera you are activating
two receptors involved with cell division in the breast," she says,
"and that's the culprit, not estrogen [for increased breast cancer]." In addition, recent research
shows that Provera interferes with
estrogen's ability to prevent memory loss and dementia. “Estrogen
is able to
protect neurons against toxic assaults that are associated with Alzheimer's
disease," notes Roberta Diaz Brinton, a neuroscientist at the University
of Southern California…. she found “that Provera--and no other progestin--blocks
the mechanisms that allow estrogen to fight the brain's immune response to
Alzheimer's”. This immune response wears away at brain cells and causes them to leak
neurotransmitters such as glutamate, which overloads and kills neurons.” Hormone
Hysteria, Scientific American Sept. 2003. ------
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BENEFITS Cardiovascular
disease (CVD): estrogen lowered
by 20% cholesterol,
37% LDL (bad cholesterol) and raised by 14% HDL 14%, extends life 2.1 years, Braunwald, Heart Disease …, 5th
Ed, 1997, p 1708 tables. “Estrogen-replacement
therapy decreases CAD morbidity and CAD mortality …. In a meta-analysis …
the relative risk for CAD in postmenopausal subjects… was 0.56 compared to subjects not taking estrogen”
[a 44% reduction]
Braunwald supra 1142. Another study
found a 50% reduction in CHD. This is because estradiol blocks
oxidation of LDL. Estradiol completely
reverses the effects induced by oxLDL on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway, thus avoid MPA and LNG (levonorgestrel). Another study found 26 deaths vs. 56 for
placebo. A meta-study found and a 50% reduction of Coronary
Heart Disease. High cholesterol entails more LDL thus more
oxidative damage to LDL, this causes CVD.
Decreases breast
cancer 73% using estradiol: “in
breast cancer (10 in treated group v 17 in control
group).” HRT after & also during breast cancer
greatly increases
survival, also ratio 0.28--results would be better with
progesterone. “MPA (prempro)
increases the risk of breast cancer” other progestins increase risk. Contrary
to PhARMA estradiol reduces risk and
increases survival, and when given following breast cancer 2/3rd
fewer deaths at 15 years HRT, and same for uterine
cancer..
Colon cancer: “the
reduction among current users RR = 0.55… users of 11 years or more RR of
0.54 [46% lower, also].” Estrogen
and progesterone have beneficial
effects for “esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines.”
Alzheimer’s disease
reduced 83% with long-term HRT.
This is because estrogen is neuro-protective, it inhibits oxidative damage. Progesterone also limits damage; thus is used in large doses following
trauma “to limit central nervous
system damage.”
Thrombosis:
an 8%
reduction in risk of with Esterfied Estrogen while those on Prempro had a 65%
elevated risk JAMA 04, “Cases and controls, whose
average age was 65 years, did not differ significantly on matching variables or
on current use of exogenous
estrogen (5.1% of cases versus 6.3% of controls).”
A 23% reduction with estrogen is significant!
Breast density measured
for women
on HRT.
The difference has been repeatedly noted
on mammograms.
Healthier
skin American Journal of Clinical
Dermatology,
“Studies of postmenopausal women indicate that estrogen
deprivation is associated
with dryness, atrophy, fine
wrinkling, poor healing, epidermal thinning, declining dermal collagen content,
diminished skin moisture. The decrease was preventable
by the use of hormone
replacement therapy.” The mean collagen content
in the skin was found to be 48% greater.
Conclusions: HRT improved skin ageing.
Osteoporosis: “Esterified estrogens produced significant
increases
in bone mineral density (lumbar spine, hip).
54.2%
greater spinal mineral. “1
of 4 white
women over the age of 60 had spinal compression fractures associated with
osteoporosis. One
woman of 5 will fracture a hip by the age of 90” Bone gain from long-term HRT; estradiol's
role.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): “Transdermal HRT was well tolerated,
increased well-being, reduced articular index and increased lumbar spine bone
density over a one year period in postmenopausal women with RA.”
Osteoarthritis
(OA): When
both incident and progressive radiographic knee OA
cases combined, “current ERT [estrogen replacement therapy] use had a 60% decreased risk compared with never use.” ).
Macular
degeneration, age related. HRT resulted in a 36% reduction and other eye pathologies.
Sexual
Satisfaction: “HRT improves sexual function in the orgasm, lubrication and pain
domains …”
Mood elevation
and depression: “Numerous molecular and
clinical studies have implicated estrogen in
modulating brain function including that related to mo od,” and for treatment of mood disorders
and depression.
10 Reasons for HRT: Menopause Int. &
Oncology. Both list the above benefits,
and the latter advices HRT for breast cancer patient survivor that they take
HRT because of “a 70% reduction in the risk of death” during the 15 years.
Sarcopenia
refers
to the loss of skeletal muscle mass with age and is associated with low level
of estrogen or TTT (testosterone). Sarcopenia
in 22.6%
in older postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen or TTT. TTT prevents and
reverses sarcopenia, and.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Since the various health benefits are dose dependent, a dose
comparable to the Danish study (sequential
2 mg estradiol and 1 mg of norethisterone), Noretheisteone simulates
growth of breast cancer. Thus USE natural progesterone 100 mg
micronized in oil capsule with 2 mg estradiol, which can be made in a
compounding pharmacy, Or in a lotion use a higher dose of 8 mg of estradiol
because skin absorption is 10-20%. Bio-activity decreases with age. All current HRTs pills and patches are too low
a dose. Activelia (the best) has half
the dose used in the Danish study and norethindrone, which
could be similar to MPA.
For excellent mail-service and
price use Coast Compounding Pharmacy (760-433-6263),Dieter Steinmetz. To improve
mix ¼ tsp with 1 oz water and
apply with fingers over upper torso, face and underarms. Progesterone lowers
risk of uterine cancer,
and testosterone 10 mg to avoid sarcopenia loss of muscle mass, reverse androgen deficiency and improves libido.
In the 1980s testosterone was safely used in
HRT. Beware of doctors who do hormone
balancing; it is not based on science. Post menopausal do not have a hormone cycle—pre do. There
are no heads
on studies to prove the benefits of sequential HRT. If sequential, 200 mg progesterone 12 days
of a 28 day cycle as in Prometrium. JK since 2003 uses lotion testosterone (not
orally active) as described above.
Profits create a conflict of interests
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